He was born in Hatfield and grew up in Hampstead, London. After training as an actor he sang in coffee bars. He became a resident at the Troubador folk club in Earls Court in the late 1950s. He joined Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four in 1961. He is a renowned solo performer of traditional songs in a very distinctive style, accompanying himself on his trusty old Martin Guitar; his style is marked by the use of alternate tunings, and a strongly percussive picking style that emphasizes the melody. His debut album, Martin Carthy, was released in 1965, and also featured Dave Swarbrick playing fiddle on some tracks, although he was not mentioned in the album's sleeve notes.
He has also been involved with many musical collaborations. He has sung with The Watersons since 1972, was an early member of the UK folk rock group Steeleye Span, and was part of the innovative Brass Monkey ensemble, which mixed a range of brass instruments with Carthy's guitar and mandolin and John Kirkpatrick's accordion, melodeon and concertina.
For many years Carthy has enjoyed a creative partnership with fiddle player Dave Swarbrick. More recently, Waterson:Carthy has provided the forum for a successful partnership with partner Norma Waterson together with their daughter Eliza Carthy.
In June 1998 he was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002, and again in 2005 when he also won the award for Best Traditional Track for 'Famous Flower of Serving Men'.
Rave On
Martin Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make me want to be with you
Rave on, it's a crazy feelin'
I know it's got me reelin'
I'm so glad, you're revealin' your love for me
Rave on, rave on and tell me
Tell me not to be lonely
Rave on to me
Way you dance and you hold me tight
The way you kiss and say goodnight
Rave on, it's a crazy feelin'
I know it's got me reelin'
I'm so glad, you're revealin' your love for me
Rave on, rave on and tell me
Tell me not to be lonely
Tell me, you love me only
Rave on to me
Little things I like to say and do
Make me want to be with you
Rave on, it's a crazy feelin'
I know it's got me reelin'
I'm so glad, you're revealin' your love for me
Rave on, rave on and tell me
Tell me not to be lonely
Tell me, you love me only
Rave on to me
Little things I like to say and do
Make me want to be with you
Rave on, it's a crazy feelin'
I know it's got me reelin'
I'm so glad, you're revealin' your love for me
Rave on, rave on and tell me
Tell me not to feel lonely
Tell me, you love me only
Rave on to me, rave on to me
Rave on to me, rave on to me
The lyrics to Martin Carthy's "Rave On" are about the intense feelings one experiences when in love. The little things that the singer likes to say and do make him want to be with his lover even more. The phrase "rave on" is an exclamation used to express excitement or enthusiasm, and the singer feels this way about his love for his partner.
The lines "Tell me not to be lonely / Tell me, you love me only" reveal the singer's insecurity and need for reassurance from his partner. He wants to feel like he's the only one and is afraid of being left alone. The lyrics also mention the way his partner holds him tight while dancing and the way they kiss goodnight, indicating an intimate and affectionate relationship between the two.
The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's desire for his partner to express their love to him and to continue to do so in the future. Overall, the song celebrates the joy and excitement of being in love, as well as the need for reassurance and intimacy in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Little things I like to say and do
The small gestures and words that I express to you bring me closer to you
Make me want to be with you
These little things make me desire your presence and company
Rave on, it's a crazy feelin'
The exhilarating feeling of love and attraction I have towards you makes me want to celebrate and express my emotions
I know it's got me reelin'
I am aware of how intense and overwhelming these emotions can be
I'm so glad, you're revealin' your love for me
I am overjoyed that you are expressing your affection towards me
Rave on, rave on and tell me
Continue to declare your love and commitment to me with enthusiasm and passion
Tell me not to be lonely
Assure me that you will always be there for me and keep me company
Tell me, you love me only
Reinforce your devotion and faithfulness to me by telling me that you love only me
Way you dance and you hold me tight
The way you move and hold me close fills me with bliss and contentment
The way you kiss and say goodnight
Your tender kisses and loving goodnights reassure me and make me feel cherished
Tell me not to feel lonely
Reassure me that I am not alone and that you will always be there for me
Rave on to me, rave on to me
Keep expressing your love and affection towards me, and never stop revealing your feelings
Rave on to me, rave on to me
Continue to celebrate and express your love for me
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bill Tilghman, Norman Petty, Sunny West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fred Bush
a nice collection had this album along time ago. thanks
Brian Stevens
I've heard Rave On by Steeleye before & I think I prefer it to the original but didn't realise it was the title track from an album. Must see if I can get the album.
Derek Beauchamp
I bought this some time in the 1970s on LP